Atletico Madrid are on the cusp of a sensational Champions League triumph... but who are Diego Simeone's men?

They beat Barcelona and Chelsea against the odds to reach the Champions League final.

They are also leading Barca and their heavyweight city rivals Real in La Liga, four points clear with three matches to play.

But how well do we know Atletico Madrid? Here, Sportsmail's resident Spanish expert Pete Jenson tells us all we need to know about Diego Simeone's men.

Mix and match: Diego Simeone has assembled a team of real talent... but they're not all raw

Thibaut Courtois

He won the ‘Zamora’ prize in Spain last season awarded to the goalkeeper who has conceded the fewest goals and he will retain the title this season.

The son of two profesional Volleyball players, he has the size and agility to be the best in the world believes Atletico keeping coach Pablo Vercellone. Assistant manager German Burgos, who was also a keeper for Argentina and Atletico, agrees.

Courtois also speaks four languages: Spanish, French, English and Flemish.

Between the sticks: Courtois is one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers on the continent

Diego Godin

The man who holds Uruguay’s defence together and will face England in Sao Paolo.

Got into trouble early in the season in a game against Lionel Messi when the Barcelona No 10 bent forward with his hand across the back of his left thigh and Godin turned to team-mate Joao Miranda pointing to the back of his own left leg, and clenching his fist in a gesture that seemed to say: ‘He’s hurt, let’s finish him off’.

He responded to the over-sensitive outcry saying: 'They are just things you do on a football pitch. I would never encourage a team-mate to injure another professional.

'I was just pointing out how it was the time to really keep the pressure on and take advantage because they were weakened.' He is Diego Simeone’s warrior leader.

Rise: Diego Godin gets up high to clear, and may cause England some problems this summer

Filipe Luis

He almost signed for Barcelona when at Deportivo but they baulked at his then €20m buy-out clause. He would be worth close to that now if he were prized away from the Vicente Calderon and several Premier League suitors would like to take him.

Came back from a horrendous leg break three seasons ago and is now most people’s choice as best left back in La Liga. Strangely not Luiz Felipe Scolari’s cup of tea though.

Miranda

As with Filipe Luis, Miranda has been largely ignored by the national side and is unlikely to make the plane to Brazil.

Vicente del Bosque even considered adopting Miranda for the Spanish team in much the same way as his Atletico Madrid team-mate Diego Costa but the defender has already represented Brazil so he is set to miss out on the World Cup.

Offers calm at the back and scored the winning goal in last season’s Copa del Rey final against Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.

Shield: Miranda holds off former Atletico striker Fernando Torres in the first leg

Juanfran

A spindly winger who never quite made the grade at Real Madrid, Juanfran washed up at Osasuna and was eventually signed by Atletico and converted into an unconvincing emergency defender by Simeone’s predecesor Gregorio Manzano.

Simeone has turned him into the real thing, adding aggression and positioning to his attacking virtues.

There are still lapses, as suffered for Spain against France last year when he gave away possession allowing the French to equalise in a match that complicated his nation's qualification for Brazil but his progress has been stellar and he will contest the right back position this summer with Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta.

Brave: Juanfran attempts to clear as John Terry goes for a header at Stamford Bridge

Toby Alderweireld

A Belgian central defender schooled at Ajax and signed at the start of the season to offer cover in defence but this is Spain’s version of Dixon, Bould, Adams and Winterburn so he may have to wait for someone to retire before he gets his chance.

Has proved ultra-reliable both at right back and right-sided central defence on the few occasions he has been called upon.

Mario Suarez

Called up by Del Bosque last year and could yet be a surprise in his World Cup squad. Speaks English as he showed in the pre-match press conference and could yet be a Premier League target.

Started out as a kid at Atletico but had to move on to Celta and Mallorca before making the grade and returning as a first-team player.

Potential: Mario Suarez could yet make a surprise appearance at this summer's World Cup with Spain

Tiago

His 89 per cent pass rate on Wednesday night was one of the reasons Atletico never lost control of the game. Sat in front of the defence and plugged every hole. Was also able to guide his team-mates through a big European night at Stamford Bridge having been one of Mourinho’s foot soldiers in the past.

Played in the Luis Garcia 'ghost goal' semi-final in 2005 for Chelsea against Liverpool. 'The ball did not go in but we still went out' he complains.

Gave former team-mate John Terry an arm round the shoulder on Wednesday night as he struggled to come to terms with missing the final.

Getting rough: Atletico's Tiago has his hands over Chelsea's Willian as both chase the ball

Raul Garcia

His specialty this season as been decisive goals. Six of the nine goals he has scored have been all the all-important first in the game. The former Osasuna midfielder also has four in the Champions League. One of the best headers of the ball in La Liga, he loves getting forward and on the end of a set-piece.

Atletico tried to expose Ashley Cole that way in the first leg but it didn’t work so Garcia only made the bench for Stamford Bridge. Has played a huge part this season though and Simeone values his sacrifice enormously.

Arda Turan

'When I first came here Turan didn’t realise he could run backwards as well as forwards,' says coach Simeone. The Argentine has worked on the Turkey midfielder and added graft to his craft.

Turan has something of Paul Scholes about him with his vision, goalscorer prowess and propensity to give away fouls.

He had not played regularly for over a month with a pelvic injury but Simeone pitched him on Wednesday and the results were there for all to see.

Game over: Arda Turan slots the ball home to make it 3-1 for Atletico Madrid

Gabi

Atletico’s Captain Marvel. Suspended for the semi-final second leg but will come back into the team for the final. Another who started off at the Calderon but had to go elsewhere to make a name for himself.

Became Zaragoza’s inspiration skipper during a four-year spell and was then signed by Atletico. He scores the occasional vital and usually stunning goal but it is his tremendous work-rate and organisation in midfield that has marked him out as one of their best signings over the last five years.

Strength: Atletico midfielder Gabi holds off Ramires in the first leg in Spain

Diego

His wonder goal at the Nou Camp in the quarter-finals will never be forgotten. Has not had the impact he would have hoped for since arriving from Wolfsburg in January for a second spell at Atletico but with a pre-season behind him will fly out of the blocks next year.

Supporters love the way he gives Atletico’s regimental solidity some unpredictable flair.

Jose Ernesto Sosa

When Simeone won the league in Argentina with Estudiantes de la Plata in 2006 Sosa was key and Atletico could reap the same dividends. Excellent delivery from set-pieces, work-rate and experience gained at Bayern, Napoli and Metalist will all serve him well.

Like Diego he has had a secondary role since arriving in January but will play a bigger part next season.

Temporary: Sosa is currently on loan from Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv

Koke

He has seven caps for Spain, but he's sure to win more over the coming years after a superb fifth season as a first teamer at the Vicente Calderon.

He bagged the winning goal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona in Madrid, and is currently top of the La Liga assist table with 12.

Diego Costa has a lot to be thankful for, and the 22-year-old is top of his Christmas card list.

In March, Barcelona playmaker Xavi singled out Manchester United target Koke as his successor as the man at the heart of the world and European champions' possession-based playing style.

'He has everything: talent, physical ability, he is a footballer of the present and the future,' Xavi said.

High praise: Koke has been tipped by Xavi to be his successor in the heart of Spain's midfield

Cristian Rodriguez

Probably will not be at Atletico next season having told coach Simeone he wants to quit the club this summer.

Opportunities have been limited and the man nicknamed Cebolla (onion) will be hoping for a good World Cup performance for Uruguay against England to put himself in the shop window. He would love a move to the Premier League.

Simeone still trusts the wide midfielder to give his all despite those intentions to leave in the summer and has used him as a regular substitute this season. And there is no story behind the Onion nickname. Sportsmail has asked.

No way in: Cristian Rodriguez (left) shields the ball from Andre Schurrle

Diego Costa

The journeyman start to Costa’s career taking him from Brazil to Portugal to four clubs in Spain seemed to give everyone the wrong impression. No-one imagined he would replace Radamel Falcao so spectacularly well. Swansea’s Michu was with him during a last-game relegation-escaping season at Rayo Vallecano.

He says: 'He already did a lot of things that made you think he was a player that would end up playing at the very highest level. He was frightening in training sometimes because he’s a bit mad, but as a person you couldn’t meet a nicer guy.'

Costa’s goals are three games from landing Atletico the title in Spain – will he be there to defend it next season?

Lisbon-bound: Diego Costa (left) celebrates with team-mate Koke after scoring a penalty to make it 2-1

Adrian Lopez

This time two years ago everything in the garden was rosy. Adrian scored goals in Spain’s final friendlies before the 2012 Euros and looked like making Del Bosque’s squad.

But he did not make the final cut, went to the London Olympics and played badly and then had a stinker of a season. Arsenal showed an interest in signing him but he stayed put and was Simeone’s surprise selection on Wednesday night. His goal was the perfect way to repay his coach.

David Villa

Spain’s all-time top scorer played the game of his left in the second leg against Barcelona. He was not used against Chelsea but don’t back against him being back for the final.

A big-game player who scored in 2011 as Barca beat Manchester United. Now in the autumn of his career doesn’t have the legs to play two games a week but still has the class. One of Spain’s all-time greats.

Goalscorer: Villa has banged in the goals wherever he's been in Europe